Anonymity & Pseudonyms

July 13, 2009 in Uncategorized with 7 Comments

In my last post, I wrote of the inherent risk involved in having an internet presence. If you read the ensuing comments of that post, there was good discussion that followed. One comment, in particular, as one poster put it, may very well have proved the point of the post.

 

There is another element to this discussion deserving of treatment. Often those who post the most critical of comments, for whatever reason, will do so anonymously.  It’s an approach that strikes me as interesting.  If one has something to say, but is concerned about revealing his/her identity, maybe its better left unsaid? I know, there may be a legitimate reason to post something anonymously, but “hit and run” hecklers “in the name of Jesus” use the technique quite often. Personally, I think it reflects poorly on the one who uses it.

 

But there’s even a more sinister technique used by hecklers “in the name of Jesus.” Some, with a penchant for deception and lying, post comments under pseudonyms. Just supply the field with a false name and a phony email address and post away. What might that say about a person?

 

This happens more often than you’d imagine. I think it’s happened here very recently. That I’ve enquired of a person’s identity and the invalidity of the email address that was supplied with his comment, but have gotten no response as yet, is telling. You see, this is not the first time that I’ve gotten a comment from this person, but it is the first one that I’ve allowed through. WordPress.org supplies the IP address with the comment that is posted. IP addresses are specific to a person’s computer/network. A simple search allowed me to discover from what city the post/posts originated. This coupled with the fact that I know of no one by the poster’s name and the email address supplied isn’t a valid email address, has forced me to believe that the poster was using a pseudonym. Too, for another reason, I have a sneaking suspicion that I know who the poster is. The question is…will the person own up to it? I doubt it. Pride keeps us from doing a lot of things we know we should.

 

There is a possibility that I might be wrong, but I don’t think so. If I am, I will own up to it. What I am certain of, though, is that this kind of thing goes on regularly. I know of others who have experienced similar situations. How honorable is it to use deception as a cloak for cowardice?

 

 

 

  • http://fumblingtowardseternity.wordpress.com nick gill

    The politics of Jesus, the way he showed us to be publicly identifiable as his kingdom people, are self-sacrificial love and truth-telling.

    It makes me nuts when the thought police won’t leave a name and number after the beep. Cowardice, thy name is DRIVE-BY.

    in HIS love,
    nick

  • Jason Cole

    You don’t know me and I don’t know you, but I’ve heard of you.

    And the fact you didn’t address my questions speaks volumes.

    Enough said.

    • http://theobloggers.com/members/douglasryoung/ douglasryoung.net

      Jason,

      Another non-working email address. At least its not “douglasryoung@loser.net”, like the one you left in June.

      How do you know about Frisco and Arkansas? Why would you care if you don’t know me?

      I won’t go into the Frisco situation. I made mistakes there and apologized for those mistakes. I hurt people and I too was hurt.

      As to Arkansas, do you think I would be asked to leave and refuse? I said something that some took issue with in Arkansas. One of the elders wanted the meeting to end, but the minister asked that I be able to finish the meeting. I was willing to leave though. It’s preposterous to think that I would be “asked to leave” as you put it, but still finish the meeting.

  • Sandra W.

    All things work together for good to those who love the Lord.

    All I know is the controversy over leaving comments with false email addresses/names made me curious enough to read or reread Doug’s last 6 or so blogs plus comments made to see what was going on.

    So, Doug’s blogs served their purpose…To Be Read.

  • Rose Red

    Christ lived a life of openess and honesty. Doug has shown far more of both than Jason Cole has. The only thing Jason has been open about is the fact that he speaks without true knowledge, only hearsay which definitely falls in opposition to scripture. Enough said.

  • Theresa Bluhm

    “You have no access to a fellow Christian’s heart. No ability to test his inward devotion to the Lord, which is the all-important matter in using things indifferent. But you can scrutinize your own heart. You can examine your inner man to detect your own motives and aims for every act.”

    “The more fractured we are, the greater we become spectacles to the world. The more we are united in love, the more the world sees Christ.”

    “It is required of us that we be tender of the good name of our brethren; …
    we must not take pleasure in making known the faults of others, divulging things that are secret, merely to expose them, nor in making more of their known faults than really they deserve, and, least of all, in making false stories, and spreading things concerning them of which they are altogether innocent. What is this but to raise the hatred and encourage the persecutions of the world, against those who are engaged in the same interests with ourselves, and therefore with whom we ourselves must stand or fall?”

    “But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.” – Romans 14:10

    Jason, I DO personally know Doug and his wife. I am not gathering an opinion of him on slander. He is the man that studied with me and helped me obey the gospel. And he is NOT the man that you are trying to portray him as. If you are a man of God at all, it should make you sorrowful that you are trying to trample the reputation of a family you have yet to meet face to face.

  • Will Smith

    Douglas,
    I can not deny that there is a certain desire in us to know from whom the dart has been cast. I too have been accused of things (some true, some not) by people that didn’t want me to know who they were. I am reminded of what Paul said to the Thessalonians (1 Thess 2:13 KJV):
    “For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received [it] not [as] the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.”
    Wow!! That is tough to hear sometimes. If what someone says is the truth, it shouldn’t matter who said it. I have posted comments (not on your blog) anonymously. It wasn’t out of malice or anything of that sort. It was because sometimes I know that certain people wouldn’t listen much to ME, but might listen to the words I said if I wasn’t associated with them. Honest, truth seeking Christians will be rabidly seeking the truth, regardless of its source. Maybe, just maybe the anonymous post will strike a heart string.
    That being said, that is not what Jason (or whatever his name) is doing. I don’t know his motivation, none of us do. But his words are hurtful, and that accomplishes little. It seems by his disposition that he only seeks to hurt (I know, I have done it!!).
    What I find interesting is that sometimes Christian bloggers will completely ignore other Christians that might send them messages or comments and will even go so far as to block the IP address by which they send them messages. Again, I am reminded of Paul’s words (I Thess 4:9):
    “But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.”
    I don’t know, but I don’t remember Jesus cutting off those that would speak against him. Nor do I remember him ever discouraging those that would question him about the Gospel, even those that he KNEW had malicious intent.
    I guess what I am trying to say is this. If someone asks us a question, especially if that person is a Christian, we should answer it. Sure, we better have a few questions of our own, especially if they behave like this “jason” has behaved. But I applaud YOU Doug for not only posting his comments (heaping coals comes to mind) but also for answering his questions. Now, he looks like the fool, and you have upheld your faith, not only through your answer, but in your willingness to discuss his concerns, legitimate or not. I admire you. If only some, even some that frequent your blog quoting scripture, would follow this example.

    Your faithful servant,

    William